North Jersey Baptist;
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Adam, I was trying to be delicate in what I typed. By criminal sexual behavior I mean rape, pedophilia, sexual assault - things of this nature. I don't believe we would be denying the work of God's grace if we prohibited such men from ministry. While my view is purely subjective, the nature of these crimes is so heinous that I could not see such a man being a shepherd to others. Crimes such as pedophilia have been proven to be habitual. It becomes ingrained in the character of the person. I could not support a person who committed such an act in becoming a minister of the gospel. I do not speak for others, just for myself.
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Yes, many sins become ingrained in a man's character, yet even so Christ CAN change that character. All mankind struggles with being tempted by various sins, which is why we are all commanded to FLEE temptation.
If a pedophile has not given into his temptation, and has walked closely with the Lord, why should that bar him from ministry? He, like any other minister would still need to flee temptation if it were brought upon him. IF he falters and gives in..then he should step down from said ministry, just as a pastor who falters and gives into his temptation of adultery, pornography, homosexuality, or stealing, should step down.
Why do we think one sin is worse than another before the eyes of God?
It is our character flaw, I believe that we prefer to compare ourselves to each other as far as 'how sinful' we think we are, as opposed to comparing ourselves to God's standard..HIS SON, who was/is and always will be perfect, that really shines the light on our own sinfulness.
My daughter and I were talking about something similar recently, she was talking about how in light of various choices some of her friends have made, she's not such a bad kid, to which I said..."but it is NOT our friends God holds our sin's up against when He looks at us..it is HIS SON that He holds us up against and makes that judgment, and we ALL fall short, and we are all declared sinners, guilty, and deserving of God's wrath, and it is here that we find our hope, that God in HIS MERCY, took His wrath out on His Son, so that we do not have to suffer it."
Having been molested as a child, this is one of the things I had to work through with God and thinking this man's sins against me were some how worse than MY own sin's against God and anyone else, even though they were not the same sins..they were still vile before God, and He declared me just as guilty.
So when we look at what qualifies a man for service, we should not look to his past sins, we should look to his current condition, has he repented and turned from His wicked ways? Has God called Him to serve in that position?
Lest *man* look at our own past sins and say we can not serve God either..and bar us from ever serving where God has called us to serve..
If others know this man's past, that is a good thing, as they can help hold him accountable in those areas of struggle and weakness and encourage him to remain faithful and to remember God has saved him from his wretchedness.